There will be new schools, schedules, grade setups and bus stops this week, as area schools open, but one thing remains constant: Don't pass a stopped school bus.

Such infractions can be expensive and your misdeed may be caught on camera, said Steuben County Undersheriff Jim Allard.

"A lot of the buses have cameras now. Even if we are not there, they were will have a video of it that can possibly identify the driver and their vehicle," Allard said.

He said school bus drivers also have radio communications with their base. "So if you do pass a stopped school bus, it will be reported very quickly," he said.

Fines for passing a stopped school bus in New York range from $250 for a first infraction to $1,000 for three violations in three years. A conviction on the latter can also lead to your license being revoked for six months or longer, he said.

"We will have an intensified traffic patrol, people out in addition to the normal patrols for traffic enforcement," Allard said of Steuben County Sheriff's Office road patrols. He said that will carry into next week.

Stopped school buses will be numerous this week. All or nearly all grades begin Wednesday in Elmira, Elmira Heights, Horseheads, Odessa-Montour and Watkins Glen. All Notre Dame students will have a half day Thursday and Corning launches a staggered start, with elementary students and grades 6, 11 and 12 reporting Thursday and elementary students and grades 7-8 and 9-10 reporting Friday.

Two districts have consolidated their high schools and heavier traffic volume can be expected: Elmira High School at the former Southside High School building and Corning-Painted Post High School at the former Corning East building.